Why is it that Ford and Chevy create these beasts of cars with almost more than a 200 HP and almost 300 more lbft than our M3's, yet their 0-60 times of 3.9 are just about on par with the DCT? I remember Road&Track getting a 3.9 once with the DCT and I have been successful hitting 4.0 several times.

Can someone explain this to me? We only generate 414 HP and 295 lbft so how are the times similar to those much more powerful cars?

I claim ignorance in this subject, I'm just looking for some techies to square me away. Thanks.

because there is a practical limit to how quickly you can get off the line once you exceed a certain power level. it is based on a multitude of factors including vehicle mass, weight distribution, gearing, suspension design, electronic aids, and perhaps most importantly, tire type and width.

in a word "traction" -- if those had awd and you can do a readline launch without destroying the drivetrain, they would be on-par with the GTR to 60...nowadays you have to look at the 0-100, 0-60 is just about traction, 0-100 more reflects the whole picture

Chevy's ZL1 and the GT500 produce a ton of torque at very low rpms due to their roots style blowers. All that torque down low is difficult to manage. Run them from 60mph + and you will get killed if your stock. Dont focus on 0-60....60-130 is a better gauge for a cars accelaration

According to a Ford Engineer the 2013 GT500 has clocked a 0-60 in 3.7 and did the 1/4 mile in 11.7@121mph with traction control on. A good driver ala Evan Smith from Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords will probably get into the mid 11's with this car @ 124mph, a set of D/Rs and you could be in the high 10s to very low 11 sec. range.

definately all about traction. 0-60 times have become irrelavent in today's "horse power wars" era. 1/4 mile trap is a better indicator of power, and 5-60 is better than 0-60, but not much.

More importantly, with the power levels where they're at, focus on driving enjoyment, there is plenty of power for street/ occassional track car in the M3.

I've found it impossible to use the power of the M3 on public roads without risking jail time. Not sure how any "faster" car would help, other than to increase my likelihood of serious trouble.

On the track, you can always have more power, but with more power comes more danger, more heat, more brake wear, more problems. It also requires more skill (than I have). I'm not hating, I love speed, but at this point, worrying about a couple of tenths in 0-60, or 1/4 mile, should be the last thing that drives a car buying decision. Just my 2 cents.

definately all about traction. 0-60 times have become irrelavent in today's "horse power wars" era. 1/4 mile trap is a better indicator of power, and 5-60 is better than 0-60, but not much.

More importantly, with the power levels where they're at, focus on driving enjoyment, there is plenty of power for street/ occassional track car in the M3.

I've found it impossible to use the power of the M3 on public roads without risking jail time. Not sure how any "faster" car would help, other than to increase my likelihood of serious trouble.

On the track, you can always have more power, but with more power comes more danger, more heat, more brake wear, more problems. It also requires more skill (than I have). I'm not hating, I love speed, but at this point, worrying about a couple of tenths in 0-60, or 1/4 mile, should be the last thing that drives a car buying decision. Just my 2 cents.

I'm right there with you at this point with the C63/M3 (I had both). They have plenty of power for me and I don't need my next car to take it to a new level.

The M3 is at a great level of performance. I wouldn't mind a similar power to weight ration but with an overall lower curb weight.

Chevy's ZL1 and the GT500 produce a ton of torque at very low rpms due to their roots style blowers. All that torque down low is difficult to manage. Run them from 60mph + and you will get killed if your stock. Dont focus on 0-60....60-130 is a better gauge for a cars accelaration

According to a Ford Engineer the 2013 GT500 has clocked a 0-60 in 3.7 and did the 1/4 mile in 11.7@121mph with traction control on. A good driver ala Evan Smith from Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords will probably get into the mid 11's with this car @ 124mph, a set of D/Rs and you could be in the high 10s to very low 11 sec. range.

This car is going to be a beast....

Dave

It's still just a Mustang. I bet someone can find a way to make a civic or a lawnmower go that fast with a big enough engine

0-60s are very important if you are in to quarter mile time and speeds because they represent the beginning of the quarter mile. If you launch poorly, you have a poor quarter mile time and lower speed.

If you are not into either, then of course they don't matter and you probably opened this thread by accident.

It's still just a Mustang. I bet someone can find a way to make a civic or a lawnmower go that fast with a big enough engine

I would suggest the major point will be that the Ford will be stupid fast around any given race track - not just in the quarter mile. At a guess, it will be a fair bit faster than a ZL-1, which already leaves the M3 for dead around the 'Ring, for instance.

In other words, it will not be a one-trick pony.

We'll see if it's as civilized as the Camaro in everyday driving, but I'm thinking that without those magical GM shocks, it'll likely be a bit more hard edged.